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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · object · patient · bulb · fine · can · court · season

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. bulb — for light
  3. season — in sport
  4. can — to be able to
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. object — a thing
  9. court — of law
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. fine — high quality
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. can — a tin
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. court — of a king
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. object — to protest
  18. object — an aim
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. season — of the year
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. can — a tin
  23. court — for sport
  24. bulb — for light

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com